7 U.S. soldiers have died in the Iran war so far. Secretary of War confirms this number will grow

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has warned that more American casualties are expected in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury in Iran, after seven U.S. soldiers have already died in the fighting. Hegseth shared this outlook during a recent interview.

“The president’s been right to say there will be casualties,” Hegseth stated, according to Fox News. He added that “things like this don’t happen without casualties.” He continued, “There will be more casualties, and no one is, I mean, especially our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets.”

Despite the losses, Hegseth said this does not weaken the country’s resolve. “It stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish,” he declared. Six U.S. service members were killed in a March 1 Iranian drone attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, where they were supporting Operation Epic Fury. A seventh service member also died on March 1 from injuries sustained in a separate Iranian attack on troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.

The death toll is rising as the conflict spreads across the region

The conflict has escalated quickly, with the U.S. and Israel launching joint strikes against Iran last week. In response, Iran has fired back, targeting Israel and several neighboring Gulf Arab states, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Israel has also taken direct aim at Iran’s leadership, with Israel targeting Iran’s new supreme leader who is already reported to be wounded.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi issued a strong warning about potential U.S. ground troop deployments. During a Sunday interview, Aragchi said that if the U.S. sent ground troops into Iran, “we have very brave soldiers who are waiting for any enemy who enters into our soil, to fight with them and to kill them and destroy them.”

Aragchi also said, “We never give up, we never surrender, and we continue to resist as long as it takes. We continue to defend ourselves, and we are defending our territory, our people and our dignity. And our dignity is not for sale.”

President Donald Trump also addressed the question of ground troops while traveling on Air Force One on Saturday. When asked about their possible use in Iran, Trump said there would “have to be a very good reason.” He also warned that if ground troops were ever deployed, Iran “would be so decimated they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level.” Meanwhile, back home, Congress debating whether U.S.-Iran strikes are war continues to be an unresolved question on Capitol Hill.